Martha Graham once said that the place where a dancer stands
becomes a holy ground. Though a little exaggerated it may seem, but India is
proud to have dancers who have devoted their whole life to preserve the rich
tradition of cultural dance forms. Ms Rama Vaidyanathan is one such devotee of
Bharatanatyam- a dance form which originated in the temples of southern India.
FORE School of Management was indeed fortunate to have witnessed her stunning
performance, courtesy the Spic Macay event organised by FORE Sports and
Cultural Division.
Ms Vaidyanathan is one of the top most stars of Bharatanatyam
and is a well known exponent of the dance form all over the world. Having
trained intensively under the legendary dancer Yamini Krishnamurty and the
eminent Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan, she has been performing professionally for
the past twenty five years and is one of the most sought after dancers of her
generation. While deeply rooted in tradition she has evolved her own individual
style without forsaking the core principles of Bharatanatyam. It is her
dedication towards the sacred dance form and years of hard work that has won
her several accolades in the field of dance.
One just could not remain untouched by the child like gleam
with which she talked about how Bharatanatyam has evolved from a culture of
Devadasis to a worldwide recognized dance form. She danced with such poise and
grace, that it left the audience with a strange sense of spiritual fulfillment.
It is not often that one experiences something so beautiful, where every
gesture is perfect, every movement is flawless, every rhythm is so self absorbing.
Ms. Vaidyanathan not just offered a visual treat to the students through her
awe inspiring performance but also enlightened them about the various mudras
and their significance. She briefed the audience on how each act has a story to
tell and how beautifully the various mudras can be moulded to convey a message.
The memorable evening was concluded with yet another applaudable performance by
her on the popular tunes of Vande Matram, celebrating mother nation.